(3/2021) While it is difficult to pinpoint what exactly makes the arts as magnificent as they are to the human experience, it is hardly difficult to establish what primary principle makes them so attractive to us all. Art, at the end of the day, is created for presentation. Whether theatre, sculpture, writing, painting, or any other art, it cannot be legitimately enjoyed if there is not a soul able to view it. What happens, then, when that social presentation becomes increasingly difficult if not impossible entirely? This pandemic, unfortunately, has forced us to ask such questions. At the same time, it has shown us the resourcefulness of the human spirit through the methods used to counteract these challenges.

The local Adams County Arts Council, founded in 1993 but continuing strong to this day, has spearheaded a position at the forefront for the preservation of the arts during this strange time. Starting initially with a group of grassroots organizers, it has grown to an institution with more than 300 members that both encourages the community to become involved in the arts and educates them on how to do so. Like any organization, this strange time has forced them to fully embrace the natural creativity of the human mind. From the testimony of Leona Rega, Executive director of the council, the challenge of this pandemic has not only been overcome by the council, but even been a source of growth.

"We’re really focusing on day to day operations," Rega said, describing the current state of affairs at the Arts Council. Well-renowned for their classes across disciplines which range in subject matter from cooking pizza with professional chefs to oil painting under the tutelage of experts, there has been no desire to slow the speed of work. "Regardless of what the future holds, we have adapted so well to have classes in the new environment that some practices will be continued going forwards," Rega suggested. She mentioned that Zoom and social media have become primary means for continuing these classes, providing opportunities for the community to immerse themselves further. Cooking, painting, drawing, and even fitness classes have transitioned to Zoom, with instructors presenting their skills and training attendees through a screen. Rega stressed the fact that classes are still imbued with a personal touch, stating that "All the classes are live, the instructors present real-time. It’s very interactive."

Adding such virtual offerings to the playbook has proved to be a great boon for the Adams County Arts Council. In the case of the interactive classes, the pandemic restrictions and stresses have certainly not held back anyone from participating in the arts. "The virtual piece has allowed people to engage during a time they might otherwise not be able to," Rega suggested. For some classes that require specific elements to participate in, the council has experimented with creating packages for participants to stop by and retrieve, with the effort resulting in a great success. In addition to growing participation amongst the local communities and likely resulting from the simplicity of doing so, residents both nearby and distant have started to participate in the various classes, spreading the value of local arts far and wide. Even with the consideration of the positive aspects of the transition to online participation, however, there are negative developments still being worked out of the system. Technical challenges have predictably arisen, and with not all students being adequately tech-savvy, not all classes have been executed seamlessly. Acknowledging that fact, the staff of the council are more than optimistic, confident that such issues will be resolved as time passes and both provider and participant become more experienced with the system.

Not limited to classes, the Adams County Arts Council maintains a vivid art gallery for the community to enjoy. Unsurprisingly, this institution has faced some significant challenges since the fateful month of March last year. Just as the classes so critical to the appreciation and furthering of the arts have been resourcefully preserved by the organization, so also has the art gallery been sustained. "We’ve done everything from no one in the building and completely virtual to small groups and the virtual component," Rega explained. Initially, at the beginning of the pandemic, the gallery was entirely closed to visitors. Works were made visible to the community through presentations on social media and other such applications, a well-received measure that retained the most critical aspect of artistry. As restrictions waned, however, the gallery was once again opened at a limited in-person capacity. At the current moment, either option is open. The online art gallery exhibitions are accessible through the organization’s website, as well as in-person exhibitions scheduled in advance.

The arts council certainly deserves credit for working to preserve the important act of displaying visual art to the public. In fact, officials at the organization have mentioned intentions to continue the involvement of the art gallery in the "First Friday" tradition. "We’re still receiving new artworks and we will be participating in First Fridays," Rega stated. Displays are scheduled to be listed at the art gallery for nearly an entire year, whether in-person or online. Regardless, the arts council is diligently working to preserve the presentation aspect so vital to the value of artworks. At the time when this article was written, the listing for future presentations included a series of artworks by local high schoolers on display in the reception hall in addition to an exhibition focused on the work of instructors from programs offered by the council. Later in the year, other exciting events such as a juried art exhibition and a recyclable art competition are scheduled that permit community involvement.

This effort to encourage community involvement in the arts connects to the mission of the Adams County Arts Council in the future, especially after the nation and local areas have begun to return to normalcy. Centered around further uniting the community after a troubled time yet also fostering a greater local love and support for the arts, the council intends to expand their operations. "The focus for the new year is to reach more of Adams County as a whole," Rega suggested. Though the council does run wonderful programs, many of which are now receiving participants outside of the county, officials from the organization stress that involving locals is not always simpl. Part of this objective is the gradual expansion of familiarity with the arts council, in addition to the production of more classes and programs to interest other individuals. As a result, readers are encouraged to like the Facebook page and if they have any artworks or particular talents, to consider listing a work in the gallery or volunteering to teach a class for the council. "We’re always in need of volunteers," Rega mentioned, expressing the importance of community support.

It is just this close involvement with the community that has allowed the Adams County Arts Council to persevere through the challenges offered by the COVID pandemic. Through producing excellent classes for those able to participate at home, maintaining a space for the presentation of visual art, and making these experiences accessible to the public, the council has preserved the arts in what could otherwise be a dangerous time for them. More than that, all of this activity may very well be a small blessing in that it keeps one small element of near-normalcy in which we can all revel.